Amaya Diana
@amayadiana.bsky.social
600 followers 520 following 51 posts
Medicaid Health Policy @ KFF, will post mostly about 1115 waivers. go birds.
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Reposted by Amaya Diana
kff.org
KFF @kff.org · Jul 18
⚡ KFF’s @amayadiana.bsky.social adds context to yesterday’s CMS announcement to states that they plan to end Medicaid continuous eligibility waivers going forward. #QuickTake on.kff.org/4lU56fb
KFF graphic featuring a quote from Amaya Diana, KFF’s Policy Analyst for the Program on Medicaid & Uninsured. It says, “Ending continuous eligibility waivers will increase disenrollment due to more frequent eligibility determinations, but not everyone who loses coverage at renewal is no longer eligible.”
Reposted by Amaya Diana
amayadiana.bsky.social
A unique feature of the proposed Medicaid work requirements in the reconciliation bill is that states could choose to require individuals to work for *multiple* months prior to applying for Medicaid - meaning people with employment gaps would not qualify for Medicaid, even if currently working
Image depicts the following text:
Box 1. The impact of choosing different “look-back” periods
John lost his job and was out of work in April and May. In June, he started in a new seasonal position and worked 80 hours during the month. In July, John applies for Medicaid in an expansion state, as he qualifies for Medicaid on the basis of his income.

State A uses a 1-month look-back period when determining compliance with work requirements at application. John would be able to enroll in Medicaid (provided he meets all other program requirements).
State B uses a 3-month look-back period when determining compliance with work requirements at application. John would not qualify for Medicaid, as he was out of work in two of the three months.
Reposted by Amaya Diana
kff.org
KFF @kff.org · Jun 20
The work requirements proposed in the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” are more stringent than previous policies considered by Congress and implemented at the state level.

As the Senate debates the bill, our analysis explains the proposals in the House-passed version.
Work requirements and Medicaid: What’s in the House Reconciliation bill 
CBO Estimates: Implementing work requirements would account for the largest share of federal Medicaid savings — and cause the largest increase in the number of people without health insurance.
Verification requirements: States would be required to verify at application and renewal that ACA expansion enrollees meet 80 hours of work activities per month or qualify for an exemption. States could also require more frequent verification.
Implementation timeline: HHS must release guidance by end of 2025, giving states limited time to develop or change implementation plans, protocols, and systems before the Dec. 2026 implementation deadline.
State implementation choices: State choices to impose stricter requirements than the minimum federal requirements — like more frequent verification or longer look-back periods — and state capacity to automate processes will affect how many people could lose coverage.
Comparison to other waivers and proposals: The bill’s work requirement policies are more stringent than past Congressional proposals or state waivers, with no exemptions for older age and more barriers to getting and keeping coverage.
Reposted by Amaya Diana
ashleykirzinger.bsky.social
One of the great parts of my job is digging into the data after our initial release. This time I found that we could look at the attitudes of people with Medicaid who are currently working.
My key takeaway is that they value work and also really rely on their Medicaid coverage.
kff.org
KFF @kff.org · Jun 20
⚡ KFF’s @ashleykirzinger.bsky.social highlights our polling that looks at Medicaid enrollees who are currently employed and what they think of potential work requirements included in the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.” #QuickTake on.kff.org/44lOZAt
KFF graphic featuring a quote from Ashley Kirzinger, KFF’s Director of Survey Methodology; Associate Director for Public Opinion and Survey Research. It says, “While many working Medicaid enrollees would meet the work hours requirements, many would likely lose their coverage due to the reporting requirements... Our polling finds that most of Medicaid’s working population say losing their coverage would have direct consequences for their financial and personal well-being.”
Reposted by Amaya Diana
cpalosky.bsky.social
New from @kff.org
Public Views “Big Beautiful Bill” Unfavorably by Nearly a 2-1 Margin; Non-MAGA Republicans Oppose It, While MAGA Supporters Favor It; Favorability Erodes When People Hear About Health Impacts www.kff.org/affordable-c...
Reposted by Amaya Diana
larrylevitt.bsky.social
The House reconciliation bill appropriates money for reducing cost-sharing in ACA plans. But, only for plans that don't cover abortion. That will set up a clash in a dozen states that require abortion coverage, and undermine abortion access to low-income people.
www.kff.org/womens-healt...
Reposted by Amaya Diana
edwincpark.bsky.social
Thread: eliminating the 90% federal #Medicaid matching rate would require states to come up with an additional $626 BILLION in their own funds over the next 10 years to continue the Medicaid expansion for nearly 21 million low-income people according to KFF estimates: www.kff.org/medicaid/iss...
atrupar.com
Austin Scott previews how House Rs plan to cut Medicaid: "The federal govt is paying 90% of the Medicaid expansion. What we've talked about is moving that 90% level of the expansion back... nobody would be kicked off Medicaid as long as governors decided they wanted to continue to fund the program"
amayadiana.bsky.social
NEW: Iowa has released a state proposal for public comment that would require Medicaid expansion adults age 19-65 to work at least 100 hours a month to not have their coverage suspended.
amayadiana.bsky.social
Even as the federal Medicaid debate evolves, some states are already pursuing Medicaid demonstration waivers to introduce work requirements.

Yesterday, Arkansas and Arizona submitted Medicaid work requirement requests to CMS. KFF is tracking the latest state activity: www.kff.org/report-secti...
Map showing which states have Medicaid work requirement state waiver and legislative activity. 1 state has an approved waiver (GA), 3 have pending waivers (AZ, AR, OH), and 10 have state-level legislative or other activity.
Reposted by Amaya Diana
adrianna.bsky.social
With no disrespect meant to the EHBS, this has to be my fave annual KFF report
robinr.bsky.social
Check out our 23rd annual #Medicaid eligibility and enrollment survey report. Many states emerged from the unwinding with more efficient processes by maximizing the use of technology to verify income, reduce returned mail, and improve communications with enrollees. www.kff.org/medicaid/rep...
Medicaid and CHIP Eligibility, Enrollment, and Renewal Policies | KFF
A KFF survey of state Medicaid officials examines state Medicaid and CHIP eligibility, enrollment, and renewal policies in place as of January 2025 as states return to routine operations following the...
www.kff.org
Reposted by Amaya Diana
Reposted by Amaya Diana
kff.org
KFF @kff.org · Feb 25
States have used Section 1115 waivers to expand Medicaid coverage or benefits, change policies for existing populations, modify delivery systems, restructure financing or authorize new payments, and make other program changes.

Learn more: on.kff.org/3PRC1SZ
Table showing the history of Medicaid Section 1115 Waivers from 1990s-2024. The table shows the breakdown by time period and what the waiver priorities were, including: Broad Coverage Expansions, HIFA & Other Waivers, Pre-ACA Expansion, Expansion Waivers / Delivery System Reform, Condition Eligibility & Provide Payment for IMD Services, and Continuous Eligibility for Kids and Health-Related Social Needs. Periodic cover over time: Emergency Waivers.
Reposted by Amaya Diana
preetabread.bsky.social
Great new work from @kff.org --

When asked about the consequences of losing Medicaid, a 55-year old Trump voter from Oklahoma said "For me it would, it would probably lead to death, and that’s kinda harshly speaking, but it’s the way that it would be."

www.kff.org/medicaid/rep...
amayadiana.bsky.social
When asked to respond to proposals to reduce federal Medicaid spending, participants appealed to policymakers to consider how these changes would negatively impact people. The message of several Trump voters to policymakers was to focus on improving Medicaid instead of cutting it. (8/9)
quote 1: If you take money from Medicaid, you’re just creating another problem elsewhere. It’s gonna be a group of people that are being hurt over here to help the people over there so it doesn’t add up. It doesn’t make sense. –45-year-old, Hispanic male (Trump voter, Arizona)

quote 2: Leave it alone and make it better. –57-year-old, White female (Trump voter, Missouri)

quote 3: I would just beg them please to do their best to keep medical coverage for people that need it. And I mean, I live every day, day to day taking my meds and I need it. I don’t know what I would do without it. –39-year-old, Black male (Trump voter, Ohio)

quote 4: Well, I think they should step back and look at it and realize that we’re not just a number on a spreadsheet or something that. We’re actually people and what they decide to do has consequences. –39-year-old, White male (Harris voter, Kentucky)

quote 5: Ask yourself, if you’re the person to make the decision to cut [Medicaid], if it was you and someone in your family [who would be affected], what would you do if it was you? – 59-year-old, White male (Harris voter, Pennsylvania)
amayadiana.bsky.social
Both Trump and Harris voters said that losing Medicaid coverage would be “devastating” and would lead to serious consequences for their physical and mental health. (7/9)
I think obviously, not having access to healthcare, or having to have the financial ability to pay for your medical needs, your basic medical needs, is something that we shouldn’t have to worry about because we worry about how we’re going to eat. We worry about how we’re gonna pay our bills… Not having Medicaid would be, not distressful, it would be detrimental because I need to see a primary care doctor, I need to see my specialist. – 58-year-old, Black female (Harris voter, Ohio)

For me it would, it would probably lead to death, and that’s kinda harshly speaking, but it’s the way that it would be. I’ve relied upon Medicaid for myself in order to survive. For my son, it would be survivable, but it would be difficult. He has real bad allergies, he wouldn’t be able to hear. –55-year-old, White female (Trump voter, Oklahoma)
amayadiana.bsky.social
Some participants who weren't currently working felt concerned about work requirements, while others who supported the policy thought they would qualify for an exemption. Many participants said they wanted to work but couldn't due to disability/caregiving responsibilities/the job market (6/9)
quote 1: I can’t because I have chronic pain and I just can’t. I worked until I couldn’t work no more. – 57-year-old, White female (Trump voter, Missouri)

quote 2: There’s nothing out here from miles and miles. I live in between two towns and it’s still nothing, you know, so people don’t always have the resources or availability to do what they ask. – 39-year-old, Black female (Harris voter, North Carolina)

quote 3: I mean, if you’re able bodied then, then you should still be working and trying and proving to them that you’re able to, ’cause like I said earlier, I want to work, but because of daycare costs, financially I can’t. –34-year-old, White female (Trump voter, Kentucky)

quote 4: I already know I am exempt because I’ve seen this proposal and I already know I was exempt from it. But no, I wouldn’t be able to meet it if I wasn’t exempt. –57-year-old, White male (Harris voter, Pennsylvania)
amayadiana.bsky.social
If work requirements were introduced to Medicaid, participants who were working generally felt confident in their ability to meet the requirements, but some worried about the burden of monthly reporting requirements when those were described to them. (5/9)
quote 1: Required? Oh yeah. Easy. Oh yeah, absolutely. Mind you, I can’t do certain jobs. I can’t drive, if you will, but yeah, I can, I could do it. I can make it work. – 45-year-old, Hispanic male (Harris voter, Arizona)

quote 2: It’s gonna be devastating and upsetting to, you know, if you lose your health insurance if I forget as we tend to, we are only humans, sometimes we forget things. So if I don’t do this [report work hours], it affects the rest of my household and I don’t like that. – 45-year-old, Black female (Harris voter, Ohio)

quote 3: I would be very worried about them making mistakes. There’s been many times I’ve sent in paperwork and they didn’t get it and coverage was stopped. You know, a lot of room for clerical error and things like that. – 50-year-old, White female (Trump voter, Nevada)